Abstract:Purpose of review
Congenital infections are a major cause of childhood multidomain neurodevelopmental disabilities. They contribute to a range of structural brain abnormalities that can cause severe neurodevelopmental impairment, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and neurosensory impairments. New congenital infections and global viral pandemics have emerged, with some affecting the developing brain and causing neurodevelopmental concerns. This review aims to provide current understanding of fetal infection… Show more
“…Furthermore, due to the modern sedentary lifestyle, more and more younger people are diagnosed with chronic diseases like obesity, dyslipidemias, arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, and rheumatic disease and their cardio-vascular complications (stroke, myocardial infraction, chronic coronary syndrome, atrial fibrillation) as compared with the former times, where these were once considered to be diseases of advanced age [42][43][44] and were rarely present in women of childbearing age [23][24][25][26][45][46][47][48]. González V.S.E.…”
Background: COVID-19 was an infection that was capable of bringing the entire world to a standstill position within a period of days to months. Despite the advancements in the medical sector, the contagion was difficult to control and costed the lives of millions of people worldwide. Many short- and long-term effects are witnessed even to date in people that contracted the disease. Pregnant females had to suffer not only the devastating effects of the virus, but also the psycho-social impact of the lockdown. The impact of COVID-19 infection during pregnancy causing decreased antenatal care or hypoxemic episodes due to severe respiratory distress and whether it could lead to the appearance of congenital gastrointestinal malformation in neonates is still unclear. The aim of our study was to analyze if COVID-19 infection during pregnancy could increase the incidence of gastric malformations in neonates born from these women. Materials and Methods: We sifted the files of all neonates admitted into our hospital between January 2022 and December 2022, and based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, we included the cases having gastrointestinal congenital malformations during the COVID-19 pandemic. We performed a single-center, retrospective, observational descriptive study. We further divided the patients based on the anatomical location of the malformation. We also took down details of the evolution of pregnancy and whether the mother had contracted a SARS-CoV-2 infection during the pregnancy. Details regarding the Apgar score, days of intensive care admission, sex, and nutrition were the key findings studied. Results: A total of 47 neonates were found to have digestive anomalies, among which, based on the anatomical locations, the number of malformation cases found at the level of the esophagus were 15, while 16 occurred at the level of the pylorus; we found 12 cases of malformation of the duodenum, and four cases had malformation of the rectum. Out of these 47 neonates, 38.3% were females and 61.7% were males. A total of 58% were preemies, among which 9% had intra-uterine growth retardation (IUGR), and 42% were full-term newborns, among which 4% had intra-uterine growth retardation (IUGR). A total of 45% of the births were primiparous pregnancies and 55% were from multiparous females. A total of 14 mothers were found to have tested positive for COVID-19 during the course of pregnancy (p-value = 0.23); many had mild symptoms but were not tested. Conclusions: COVID-19 can affect the wellbeing of the pregnant female and their fetus. Larger studies can help gain extensive knowledge as to whether COVID-19 also has the potential to result in congenital gastrointestinal anomalies in children born from COVID-19 positive mothers. In our study, only a few infants born with this pathology were found to be born from COVID-19 positive mothers. Hence, it is difficult to conclude or exclude a direct correlation between the infection and the congenital malformations.
“…Furthermore, due to the modern sedentary lifestyle, more and more younger people are diagnosed with chronic diseases like obesity, dyslipidemias, arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, and rheumatic disease and their cardio-vascular complications (stroke, myocardial infraction, chronic coronary syndrome, atrial fibrillation) as compared with the former times, where these were once considered to be diseases of advanced age [42][43][44] and were rarely present in women of childbearing age [23][24][25][26][45][46][47][48]. González V.S.E.…”
Background: COVID-19 was an infection that was capable of bringing the entire world to a standstill position within a period of days to months. Despite the advancements in the medical sector, the contagion was difficult to control and costed the lives of millions of people worldwide. Many short- and long-term effects are witnessed even to date in people that contracted the disease. Pregnant females had to suffer not only the devastating effects of the virus, but also the psycho-social impact of the lockdown. The impact of COVID-19 infection during pregnancy causing decreased antenatal care or hypoxemic episodes due to severe respiratory distress and whether it could lead to the appearance of congenital gastrointestinal malformation in neonates is still unclear. The aim of our study was to analyze if COVID-19 infection during pregnancy could increase the incidence of gastric malformations in neonates born from these women. Materials and Methods: We sifted the files of all neonates admitted into our hospital between January 2022 and December 2022, and based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, we included the cases having gastrointestinal congenital malformations during the COVID-19 pandemic. We performed a single-center, retrospective, observational descriptive study. We further divided the patients based on the anatomical location of the malformation. We also took down details of the evolution of pregnancy and whether the mother had contracted a SARS-CoV-2 infection during the pregnancy. Details regarding the Apgar score, days of intensive care admission, sex, and nutrition were the key findings studied. Results: A total of 47 neonates were found to have digestive anomalies, among which, based on the anatomical locations, the number of malformation cases found at the level of the esophagus were 15, while 16 occurred at the level of the pylorus; we found 12 cases of malformation of the duodenum, and four cases had malformation of the rectum. Out of these 47 neonates, 38.3% were females and 61.7% were males. A total of 58% were preemies, among which 9% had intra-uterine growth retardation (IUGR), and 42% were full-term newborns, among which 4% had intra-uterine growth retardation (IUGR). A total of 45% of the births were primiparous pregnancies and 55% were from multiparous females. A total of 14 mothers were found to have tested positive for COVID-19 during the course of pregnancy (p-value = 0.23); many had mild symptoms but were not tested. Conclusions: COVID-19 can affect the wellbeing of the pregnant female and their fetus. Larger studies can help gain extensive knowledge as to whether COVID-19 also has the potential to result in congenital gastrointestinal anomalies in children born from COVID-19 positive mothers. In our study, only a few infants born with this pathology were found to be born from COVID-19 positive mothers. Hence, it is difficult to conclude or exclude a direct correlation between the infection and the congenital malformations.
“…Congenital infections are a common cause of multidomain neurodevelopmental disorders in children. Several structural brain anomalies result in neurodevelopmental delays, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and neurosensory dysfunction [3]. Congenital toxoplasmosis (CT) has the potential to present with significant organ symptoms, notably retinochoroiditis, and can persist throughout an individual's lifespan [4].…”
Section: Exploring Possible Causes Linked To the Recent Upsurge In To...mentioning
Purpose: Toxoplasmosis is a prevalent parasitic ailment that has been detected in a wide range of warm-blooded organisms, encompassing both domesticated animals and human hosts. This study aimed to investigate potential risk factors associated with the increasing incidence of toxoplasmosis in North Kordofan State, Sudan.
Methodology: This descriptive investigation was undertaken in El-Obeid, North Kordofan State, Sudan, between January and March of 2024. Around 155 samples were acquired from women who had undergone miscarriages or had a prior history of miscarriage. A venous blood sample was collected from every participant in order to perform serological analyses, such as ICT and ELISA.
Results: The study group had a prevalence rate of 11.6% for Toxoplasma infection. The positive instances were evenly distributed across all age groups. The highest number of positive cases were observed among individuals with secondary education, followed by those with basic education and university education, accounting for 44.4%, 27.8%, and 16.7%, respectively. The majority of positive cases, accounting for 94.4%, have reported "cat contact." The odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for cat contact in toxoplasmosis is 7.7766 (1.0023 to 60.3384), with a p-value of 0.05
Unique Contribution to Theory, Policy and Practice: Toxoplasmosis exhibits a high prevalence throughout the North Kordofan state of Sudan, maybe contributing to the heightened incidence of miscarriage within the region. The primary mode of transmission of infection is through contact with cats.
“…In general, these diagnoses and follow-ups require multidisciplinary teams in pediatric subspecialties, such as infectious diseases, neurology, ophthalmology, endocrinology, audiology, pneumology, orthopedics, nutrition, urology, rehabilitative therapies, and family/caregiver support. These healthcare needs are complex and expensive, and are also encountered by patients with other congenital infections such as cytomegalovirus, toxoplasmosis, and rubella 25 .…”
This review aimed to provide an update on the morphological and/or functional abnormalities related to congenital Zika virus (ZIKV) infection, based on primary data from studies conducted in Brazil since 2015. During the epidemic years (2015-2016), case series and pediatric cohort studies described several birth defects, including severe and/or disproportionate microcephaly, cranial bone overlap, skull collapse, congenital contractures (arthrogryposis and/or clubfoot), and visual and hearing abnormalities, as part of the spectrum of Congenital Zika Syndrome (CZS). Brain imaging abnormalities, mainly cortical atrophy, ventriculomegaly, and calcifications, serve as structural markers of CZS severity. Most case series and cohorts of microcephaly have reported the co-occurrence of epilepsy, dysphagia, orthopedic deformities, motor function impairment, cerebral palsy, and urological impairment. A previous large meta-analysis conducted in Brazil revealed that a confirmed ZIKV infection during pregnancy was associated with a 4% risk of microcephaly. Additionally, one-third of children showed at least one abnormality, predominantly identified in isolation. Studies examining antenatally ZIKV-exposed children without detectable abnormalities at birth reported conflicting neurodevelopmental results. Therefore, long-term follow-up studies involving pediatric cohorts with appropriate control groups are needed to address this knowledge gap. We recognize the crucial role of a national network of scientists collaborating with international research institutions in understanding the lifelong consequences of congenital ZIKV infection. Additionally, we highlight the need to provide sustainable resources for research and development to reduce the risk of future Zika outbreaks.
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